Latest fashion trends abound for stylish person on gift list

Rarer still is the holiday season when the biggest trends for fashion gift-giving don't break the bank.

This is one of those rare seasons, and there's a bonus.

Many of the popular trends have interesting histories.

Here are a few suggestions for the stylish person on your gift list:

Cashmere sweater. This sweater fabric once was synonymous with expense, a pricey, upscale product. But thanks to new technology and blends, the luxurious fabric is more affordable than ever. In other words, they've taken the "cash" out of cashmere. The soft sweaters are a major trend this season in men's and women's fashions. Styles run the gamut - henley, funnel neck, twin set, mock turtleneck, cardigan - you name it. $80 to $198.

Reversible flight jacket. They come back in style every few years, these waist-length jackets first worn by pilots in World War II as part of their uniforms in the Army Air Corps. Sometimes called bomber jackets, they became popular with civilians in the early 1960s. bmnhtpuyThis holiday season, trendzoids will rejoice to find under the tree a reversible nylon flight jacket, a dark color on one side and a bright color on the other side. $40 to $100.

Nylon jacket. Speaking of nylon, which was introduced by the DuPont Co. in 1939, nylon jackets of any kind are hot this year. The nylon trend can be traced to Italy's Prada company, which made the nylon backpack the rage two years ago and followed up with outerwear in the same fabrics. $25 to $200.

Cargo pants. Fifty years ago, in 1938, the British added a wide, deep pocket on the thigh of pants for their dress battle uniform, and thus was born the cargo pant. Like its cousin, the painter pant, the cargo trouser was born of utility. The roomy pockets were used for storing gear. They have long been a popular item at Army-surplus stores. downscaleaehmrhendglieThis season, they're the hottest pant style going, cut out of everything from denim to wool flannel and, of course, your basic khaki fabric. People use the pockets to store an increasing array of modern must-have gadgets - cellular phones, pagers and the like. $29 to $79.

Stylish khaki. We do not speak here of Dockers, but of the stylish, hip khakis that are new on the scene. Khaki itself is hardly new. The dusty, light brown cotton or wool fabric dates to 1848, and was used originally for military uniforms.btsmnsk Now, khaki has been made over again by the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Nauticaaeb and other brands. Updated khaki comes in a variety of fashionable cuts, -gedg and with trendy details such as patch pockets. $40 to $80.

Dark jeans. After 15 years of supremacy of stone-washed or light-colored jeans, indigo blue or dark denim is back with a vengeance on two fronts. The very hip sport classic blue jeans, such as Levi's, with the hem folded over into a big cuff that flaunts the lighter underside of the jean. Some designers, such as Helmut Lang, have their own version of the "new" style. $30 to $120. Others are wearing retro designer jeans that are replicas of the 1970s tight jeans from the brands that started the craze: Sergio Valente, Jordache, Gloria Vanderbilt and Calvin Klein. $45 to $65.

Logo T-shirt. T-shirts with designer logos were originally given away as promotions by fashion companies in the 1970s. But some stores ordered them and found sales brisk even though a typical designer T-shirt cost three times as much as an ordinary one. These days, that could be 15 times as much, depending on whether the logo is Tommy Hilfiger's or Gianni Versace's. $18 to $60.

Logo sweater. lwritmenmlrUnlike the letter sweater from school days of old, these thick pullovers speak of allegiance to the brand name, not a college or a lower school. $75 to $150.

Designer belt. In the mid-1970s, Pierre Cardin flooded the market with brown/black reversible belts with his logo "P" on the buckle. silThose belts, which are still sold and worn, began the designer belt craze and were harbingers of the spin-off business that now sees designer labels on items such as pantyhose or gloves.-vaatlGabbanaPradarMoschino $60 to $175.